Everyone believes in themselves more than Qin Huai.
In a while, the Four Happiness glutinous rice will surely transform into a better version and amaze everyone.
Qin Huai, inexplicably trusted by everyone, is currently wrapping glutinous rice balls.
Actually, even Qin Huai finds wrapping glutinous rice balls quite boring.
The infatuated Master Qin really dislikes making the same snacks every day. Sometimes, while wrapping glutinous rice balls, Qin Huai particularly wants to knead the dough to make Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns or Three Meat Buns, if not Green Bean Cake, sticky rice cake, osmanthus cake, Crab Shell Cake, fried dough stick, pea cake, or Furong Cake will do.
In summary, as long as it’s not Four Happiness glutinous rice or guo’er.
The practice after wrapping glutinous rice balls has become an adjustment.
Bored Qin Huai feels it’s time to start chatting about gossip.
Though it’s unclear why everyone is so free, since they’re here, might as well chat a bit.
"When are you taking holiday leave this year?" Qin Huai asked.
Dong Shi was excited to answer when Qin Huai surprisingly asked him: "This year, it’ll certainly be after the seventh day. Initially, since Sixth Senior broke up, I thought it would be my turn and my brother can rest on the fifth or sixth day. Now the Sixth Senior is just in a new relationship, it’s the perfect time to spend the New Year there with his girlfriend. If lucky, we can rest on the eleventh or twelfth, but if unlucky, may have to wait until after the fifteenth of the first month to rest."
"Resting after the fifteenth is quite nice too, no need for New Year’s greetings, just lying down at home. I like taking leave after the fifteenth."
"Qin Huai, what do you do when you go home for the New Year?"
"Make snacks," Qin Huai said, thinking for a moment, "Make buns, steamed buns, rice cakes, steamed dumplings, rice noodles, and various kinds of baked buns, beef patties, pork patties, lamb patties."
"In past years, it was quite random. This year should be much better as I plan to focus on making Four Happiness glutinous rice when I return home."
What secret does Four Happiness glutinous rice have that we haven’t yet discovered, causing someone to intensely focus on making it during the New Year?
"Tan Wei’an, what about you? When’s your holiday leave for New Year? By the way, your exchange should be ending soon, it’s almost New Year, shouldn’t you be going back?" Qin Huai further asked Tan Wei’an.
Suddenly being asked made Tan Wei’an pause, unexpectedly becoming the center of gossip just by forcefully watching, he hastily answered, "It should be time to go back, Boss Su has urged us several times."
"But I think there’s no rush, there’s still some time before New Year. If you go back on the sixth then we’ll go back on the sixth. Anyways, going back is just for work."
Huang An Yao curiously asked, "Does Zhiwei Restaurant take a break during the New Year?"
"Same as you, it’s a rotational leave." Tan Wei’an said, "But we won’t operate all day on the New Year’s Eve; we’ll close by 5 PM. Locals can go home for New Year, and non-locals usually take a day or two off to go home, staffing is low during New Year so the type and quantity of snacks we sell will be very limited."
"Working anywhere is just work. Qin Huai, in the future, for exchanges you don’t need to contact Boss Su, just tell me directly, I’ll arrange people for you, even if it’s a bit farther, many here in Shan City want to go."
Tan Wei’an almost directly implied that if Yunzhong Restaurant needs helper staff for next year, please contact me first.
After all, going to other restaurants for exchange might be pure chores, but coming to Qin Huai’s exchange surely means learning real things.
Every morning Master Qin brings his younger sister to taste everyone’s practiced snacks.
"Alright, I’ll definitely contact you when needed." Qin Huai agreed readily.
This is not mere politeness, Qin Huai genuinely thinks he’ll probably need them later.
The helpers from Zhiwei Restaurant are incredibly professional.
It’s easy to go from frugal to luxurious, but hard to go from luxurious to frugal.
Once the New Year is over, Qin Huai’s study exchange with Huang Ji ends, and it’s time to return to Yunzhong Restaurant. Qin Huai fears that without reliable helpers, making snacks won’t be as comfortable.
Sigh, he’s no longer that young Master Qin, he’s now Master Qin.
When Master Qin enters the kitchen in the morning, if he can’t drink a cup of hot tea right away, he’ll feel thirsty.
Qin Huai clicked his tongue.
A quick-eyed helper from Zhiwei Restaurant immediately offered a cup of warm tea.
"Master Qin, have some tea and take a break."
Qin Huai took the teacup and drank two big sips, suddenly remembering that they were discussing holiday breaks. But someone has already gone home early for New Year.
That would be Qin Congwen and Zhao Rong.
Far away at Yunzhong Restaurant in Shan City, the boss has been absent since two days ago.
The boss is in an exchange at Gusu, the boss’s sister is having supplementary classes in Gusu, the boss’s parents have gone back to their hometown for New Year, the whole Yunzhong Restaurant has entered a no-management mode, completely relying on employees to manage their own shifts, purchases, etc.
It’s all about trust.
Qin Huai messaged Huang Xi, inquiring about Yunzhong Restaurant’s holiday arrangements. Normally, Qin Huai doesn’t care about such things, with Zhao Rong and Qin Congwen managing them, but since the conversation naturally led to it, Qin Huai decided he should care about his own restaurant’s holiday plan.
Just in case, while chatting later, Dong Shi suddenly asks: Qin Huai, how does your restaurant schedule holidays for New Year?
What would he do if he couldn’t answer as the owner?
Better to ask clearly in advance.
Huang Xi replied instantly, sending a schedule chart.
Upon checking, Qin Huai was amazed.
During New Year’s, the waitstaff will take turns. Chen An, who needs to return home, has taken extra leave. From the 27th day of the month to the 6th day of the first month, he won’t be coming to work.
Chen An’s a breakfast chef, during that period, most workplaces near Yunzhong Restaurant are also on break or having rotational shifts, so customer flow decreases. Not selling breakfast isn’t a big deal, hence Zhao Rong approved his leave.
Li Hua, a local resident with a family, won’t work from New Year’s Eve to the second day due to spending time with his wife and kids.
Huang Xi will be off on New Year’s Eve, the second, and third days.
Only Pei Xing, lacking a partner, doesn’t need to go back home for the New Year, and lives particularly close to the restaurant, remains on full duty during the holiday period.
Even Youyou takes a leave on the third and fourth days, likely wanting to rest for two days.
In the end, it’s Pei Xing who shouldered everything for Yunzhong Restaurant.
Qin Huai felt quite moved and messaged Pei Xing.
Qin Huai: "Thanks for all your hard work during this time. I will return to the restaurant right after New Year, and if you have any concerns regarding making snacks, just say, so we can discuss them together."
Pei Xing was almost moved to tears upon receiving the message.
Though the boss hasn’t sent him a private message for two months and three days, replies in the work group were quite brief, the boss still remembers him!
Young Master Qin remembers me!
His efforts are noticed by Young Master Qin!
Thinking about this, Pei Xing kneaded the dough even harder.
"Pei Xing, aren’t you finishing soon? Why are you still kneading dough, has the off-duty time changed?" Li Hua asked.
Pei Xing: "...I just don’t want to finish work early today, going to make an extra batch."
"Making extra might not sell out, the folks all in Gusu aren’t back yet, there won’t be people buying snacks tonight."
"...Don’t worry, if it’s unsold, I’ll cover the cost myself. I just love making some snacks."